After makeover, Palace sign ready for action

Cameron Light and Electric owner Mike Cameron lines up a stencil to retrace the lettering of the Palace Theatre sign, which was taken down last month to be fully restored.
(Photo11:
Josh Cross/Gallatin News Examiner
)

After an extensive restoration project lasting nearly two months, the historic Palace Theatre’s sign is almost ready to be back in the spotlight on the square in downtown Gallatin.

On Friday, crews are expected to replace the at least 79-year-old sign, which was taken down on Aug. 4 to be completely restored. A tentative lighting ceremony is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. followed by a showing of “True Grit” starring John Wayne and a free moonshine tasting sponsored by Broadway Discount Liquors for adults 21 years and older.

“It’s going to be really nice to have the sign back up and beautiful like it used to be,” said Donna Belote, executive director of Greater Gallatin, which owns and operates the theater. “I didn’t realize the advertisement that the sign was for us, so I think to have it back will just be a huge help for us.”

In June, the 100-year-old theater was awarded a Rural Business Opportunity Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore the sign. The project totaled $18,477 of which $4,000 is being covered by the nonprofit.

Once Cameron Light and Electric owner Mike Cameron started working on the sign, he realized the poor shape it was in. The frame, which was bent in parts, had sections that were not attached to each other due to bolts that had rusted and completely fallen out.

“When we got it to the ground and went to start working on (the sign), it was folding and wrinkling in places where I did not expect to see movement,” Cameron said. “It was in considerably worse shape than we had anticipated.”

As part of the project, Cameron reworked parts of the frame to make it more structurally sound, replaced 236 lamp sockets like the original ones from the 1930s, replaced the internal electrical wiring, added neon back to the Palace lettering and repainted the sign.

“In appearance, you can’t tell the difference,” Cameron said. “The paint is said to be good for 20 years and we are using all of the processes recommended, so I don’t doubt that we’ll get that kind of life out of it.”